The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) has undergone a name change to World Aquatics following a vote at its annual Extraordinary Congress.

The news comes the day before the start of the 25m World Swimming Championships 2022, which is being held in Melbourne.

Over its 114-year history, FINA and its 209 member federations have maintained responsibility for swimmers, artistic swimmers, divers, high divers, open water swimmers and water polo players.

“Everyone in our community is proud of what FINA achieved in developing our sports,” said World Aquatics President, Husain Al-Musallam

“As we look to the future, World Aquatics will see all aquatics athletes united for the first time under one brand. The identity of our organisation now focuses on our shared vision: a world united by water, for health, life and sport.”

The launch of the World Aquatics brand follows a series of major reforms, with a broader scope and increased engagement with participants and audiences.

World Aquatics’ Executive Director, Brent Nowicki, added: “World Aquatics is determined to play its part in ensuring the ability to participate, compete in and benefit from aquatic sports. This ability is dependent on being able to swim and having access to places to swim. 

“Both these things are incredibly important to World Aquatics and our member federations, and it’s right that our new brand should reflect that.”

The news marks the culmination of 18 months of what the body described as an ‘intensive organisational transformation’, much of it guided by the FINA Reform Committee. 

During this process, World Aquatics has made improvements to its governance, notably the strengthening of the athletes’ voice in decision-making and the creation of an independent Aquatics Integrity Unit.

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